by Peter Hart
Living conditions naturally improved further back from the line. Of course, the generals and their teams of staff officers did not share the privations and risks faced by the men in the front line. They needed to be at the centre of a communications hub that stretched forward to the battalions in the line and back to the High Command. The staff needed somewhere to work in reasonable safety, to draw up their detailed plans and from which they could disseminate their orders. They either occupied former German dugouts, or purpose built headquarters dug by the Royal Engineers.
For the British infantry all hopes were centred on the time when they would be relieved at the end of their tour of duty in the front line. Nobody could stand it for long under these conditions and five days was about the norm. The relief rarely went entirely smoothly as the new troops often had trouble finding their way to the right spot in the wasteland that surrounded them. Then the officers and NCOs had to ensure that the new garrison understood the local situation, the strength and weaknesses of the trenches, the locations of the trench stores and the linking points with neighbouring units. It was often a long, drawn-out process. The combination of fear, exhaustion, stress, extreme physical discomfort and illness was a potent brew. Officers, NCOs and men were all ground down and at the end of their physical and mental tether by the time their tour in the line came to an end.
I collected the remnants of my section and began to struggle back through countless mud-holes. I was so weak that I kept falling down, and in the process getting muddier and muddier. Stretcher bearers came running up to help, imagining that I had been wounded. With hindsight, I now feel that I refused their offer ungraciously. The main contributory cause of the weakness was an acute attack of dysentery from which I had been suffering for some days and at that time I would rather have died than reported sick. No latrines were available, and I was forced to evacuate in numerous shell holes.16
Lieutenant Horace Paviere, 61st Company, Machine Gun Corps, 20th Division
Next morning they would slowly begin to recover their natural vigour. However bad they may have felt, once they were removed from the source of the danger and privation the natural elastic resilience of youth served them well.
It is queer by what stages one recovers from a whirl like that of the last few days, and they are invariably the same. During the worst rush one does not sleep, wash, or shave, and only eats haphazardly, a scrap here and there. The way these strains take me is that I can’t speak quickly or loudly. My voice dwindles to a sort of whisper and the words follow the brain in a slow and halting way. Sometimes I can’t think of even the simplest words in which to give an order. The first step to recovery is sleep. Then follows the first shave and a consequent feeling of increased morale and self-respect, then a wash and perhaps clean clothes, regular meals and the old order starts again.17
Captain Philip Pilditch, C Battery, 235th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, 47th Division
APPENDIX B
British Order of Battle The Somme 1916
Guards Division
1st Guards Brigade
2/Grenadier Guards, 2/Coldstream Guards, 3/Coldstream Guards, 1/Irish Guards
2nd Guards Brigade
3/Grenadier Guards. 1/Coldstream Guards, 1/Scots Guards, 2/Irish Guards
3rd Guards Brigade
1/Grenadier Guards, 4/Grenadier Guards, 2/Scots Guards, 1/Welch Guards
Pioneers:
4/Coldstream Guards
1st Division
1st Brigade
10/Glosters, 1/Black Watch, 8/Royal Berkshires, 1/Camerons
2nd Brigade
2/Royal Sussex, 1/Loyal North Lancashire, 1/Northamptons, 2/King’s Royal Rifle Corps
3rd Brigade
1/South Wales Borderers, 1/Glosters, 2/Welch, 2/Royal Munster Fusiliers
Pioneers
1/6th Welch
2nd Division
5th Brigade
17/Royal Fusiliers, 24/Royal Fusiliers, 2/Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 2/Highland Light Infantry
6th Brigade
1/King’s Regiment, 2/South Staffordshires, 13/Essex, 17/Middlesex
99th Brigade
22/Royal Fusiliers, 23/Royal Fusiliers, 1/Royal Berkshires, 1/King’s Royal Rifle Corps
Pioneers:
10/Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry
3rd Division
8th Brigade
2/Royal Scots, 8/East Yorkshires, 1/Royal Scots Fusiliers, 7/King’s Shropshire Light Infantry
9th Brigade
1/Northumberland Fusiliers, 4/Royal Fusiliers, 13/King’s Regiment, 12/West Yorkshires
76th Brigade
8/King’s Own, 2/Suffolks, 10/Royal Welch, 1/Gordon Highlanders
Pioneers:
20/King’s Royal Rifle Corps
4th Division
10th Brigade
1/Royal Warwicks, 2/Seaforths, 1/Royal Irish Fusiliers, 2/Royal Dublin Fusiliers
11th Brigade
1/Somerset Light Infantry, 1/East Lancashires, 1/Hampshires, 1/Rifle Brigade
12th Brigade
1/King’s Own, 2/Lancashire Fusiliers, 2/Essex, 2/Duke of Wellington’s Regiment
Pioneers:
21/West Yorkshire
5th Division
13th Brigade
14/Royal Warwicks, 15/Royal Warwicks, 2/King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 1/Royal West Kents
15th Brigade
16/Royal Warwicks, 1/Norfolks, 1/Bedfords, 1/Cheshires
95th Brigade
1/Devons, 12/Glosters, 1/East Surreys, 1/Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry
Pioneers:
1/6th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
6th Division
16th Brigade
1/Buffs (Royal East Kent), 8/Bedfords, 1/King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, 2/York and Lancaster
18th Brigade
1/West Yorkshires, 11/Essex, 2/Durham Light Infantry, 14/Durham Light Infantry
71st Brigade
9/Norfolks, 9/Suffolks, 1/Leicesters, 2/Sherwood Foresters
Pioneers:
11/Leicester
7th Division
20th brigade
8/Devons, 9/Devons, 2/Borders, 2/Gordon Highlanders
22nd Brigade
2/Royal Warwicks, 2/Royal Irish, 1/Royal Welch Fusiliers, 20/Manchesters
91st Brigade
2/Queen’s, 1/South Staffordshires, 21/Manchesters, 22/Manchesters
Pioneers:
24/Manchesters
8th Division
23rd Brigade
2/Devons, 2/West Yorkshires, 2/Middlesex, 2/Scots Rifles
24th1 Brigade
1/Worcestershires, 1/Sherwood Foresters, 2/Northamptons, 2/East Lancashires
25th Brigade
2/Lincolns, 2/Royal Berkshires, 1/Royal Irish Rifles, 2/Rifle Brigade
Pioneers:
22/Durham Light Infantry
9th (Scottish) Division
26th Brigade
8/Black Watch, 7/Seaforths, 5/Camerons, 10/Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
27th Brigade
11/Royal Scots, 12/Royal Scots, 6/King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 9/Scottish Rifles
South African Brigade
1/Cape Province, 2/Natal & O.F.S., 3/Transvaal and Rhodesia, 4/Scottish
Pioneers:
9/Seaforth
11th Division
32nd Brigade
9/West Yorkshires, 6/Green Howards, 8/Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, 6/York and Lancaster
33rd Brigade
6/Lincolns, 6/Border Regiment, 7/South Staffordshires, 9/Sherwood Foresters
34th Brigade
8/Northumberland Fusiliers, 9/Lancashire Fusiliers, 5/Dorsets, 11/Manchesters
Pioneers:
6/East Yorkshires
12th Division—Major General A. B. Scott
35th Brigade
7/Norfolks, 7/Suffolks, 9/Essex, 5/Royal Berkshires
36th Brigade
8/Royal Fusiliers, 9/Royal Fu
siliers, 7/Royal Sussex, 11/Middlesex
37th Brigade
6/Queen’s, 6/Buffs (Royal East Kent), 7/East Surreys, 6/Royal West Kents
Pioneers:
5/Northamptons
14th (Light) Division
41st Brigade
7/King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 8/King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 7/Rifle Brigade, 8/Rifle Brigade
42nd Brigade
5/Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 5/King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, 9/King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 9/Rifle Brigade
43rd Brigade
6/Somerset Light Infantry, 6/Dukc of Cornwall’s Light Infantry; 6/King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 10/Durham Light Infantry
Pioneers:
11/King’s
15th (Scottish) Division
44th Brigade
9/Black Watch, 8/Seaforth, 8th/10th Gordons, 7/Camerons
45th Brigade
13/Royal Scottish, 6th/7th Royal Scots Fusiliers, 6/Camerons, 11/Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
46th Brigade
10/Scottish Rifle, 7th/8th King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 10th/11th Highland Light Infantry,
12/Highland Light Infantry
Pioneers:
9/Gordons
16th (Irish) Division
47th Brigade
6/Royal Irish, 6/Connaught Rangers, 7/Leinster, 8/Royal Munster Fusiliers
48th Brigade
7/Royal Irish Rifles, 1/Royal Munster Fusiliers, 8/Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 9/Royal Dublin Fusiliers
49th Brigade
7/Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 8/Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 7/Royal Irish Fusiliers, 8/Royal Irish Fusiliers
Pioneers:
11/Hampshires
17th Division
50th Brigade
10/West Yorkshires, 7/East Yorkshires, 7/Green Howards, 6/Dorsets
51st Brigade
7/Lincolns, 7/Border Regiment, 8/South Staffordshires, 10/Sherwood Foresters
52nd Brigade
9/Northumberland Fusiliers, 10/Lancashire Fusiliers, 9/Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, 12/Machesters
Pioneers:
7/York and Lancaster
18th (Eastern) Division
53rd Brigade
8/Norfolks, 8/Suffolks, 10/Essex, 6/Royal Berkshires
54th Brigade
11/Royal Fusiliers, 7/Bedfords, 6/Northamptons, 12/Middlesex
55th Brigade
7/Queen’s, 7/Buffs (Royal East Kent), 8/East Surrey, 7/Royal West Kent
Pioneers:
8/Royal Sussex
19th (Western) Division
56th Brigade
7/King’s Own, 7/East Lancashires, 7/South Lancashires, 7/L.N. Lancashires
57th Brigade
10/Royal Warwick, 8/Glosters, 10/Worcesters, 8/North Staffordshires
58th Brigade
9/Cheshires, 9/Royal Welch Fusiliers, 9/Welch, 6/Wiltshires
Pioneers:
5/South Wales Borderers
20th (light) Division
59th Brigade
10/King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 11/King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 10/Rifle Brigade, 11/Rifle Brigade
60th Brigade
6/Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 6/King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, 12/King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 12/Rifle Brigade
61st Brigade
7/Somerset Light Infantry, 7/Duke of Cornwall’s light Infantry, 7/King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 12/King’s
Pioneers:
11/Durham Light Infantry
21st Division
62nd Brigade
12/Northumberland Fusiliers, 13/Northumberland Fusiliers, 1/Lincolns, 10/Green Howards
63rd Brigade2
8/Lincolns 8/Somerset Light Infantry, 4/Middlesex, 10/York and Lancaster
64th Brigade
1/East Yorkshires, 9/King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 10/King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 15/Durham Light Infantry
Pioneers:
14/Northumberland Fusiliers
23rd Divison
63th Brigade
10/Northumberland Fusiliers, 11/Northumberland Fusiliers, 12/Durham Light Infantry, 13/Durham Light Infantry
69th Brigade
11/West Yorkshires, 8/Green Howards, 9/Green Howards, 10/Duke of Wellington’s Regiment.
70th Brigade3
11/Sherwood Foresters, 8/King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 8/York and Lancaster, 9/York and Lancaster
Pioneers:
9/South Staffordshires
24th Division
17th Brigade
8/Buffs (Royal East Kent), 1/Royal Fusiliers, 12/Royal Fusiliers, 3/Rifle Brigade
72nd Brigade
8/Queen’s, 9/East Surreys, 8/Royal West Kents, 1/North Staffordshires
73rd Brigade
9/Royal Sussex, 7/Northamptons, 13/Middlesex, 2/Leinsters
Pioneers:
12/Sherwood Foresters
25th Division
7th Brigade
10/Cheshires, 3/Worcesters, 8/Loyal North Lancashires, 1/Wiltshires
74th Brigade
11/Lancashire Fusiliers, 13/Cheshires, 9/Loyal North Lancashires, 2/Royal Irish Rifles
75th Brigade
11/Cheshires, 8/Border Regiment, 2/South Lancashires, 8/South Lancashires
Pioneers:
6/South Wales Borderers
29th Division
86th Brigade
2/Royal Fusiliers, 1/Lancashire Fusiliers, 16/Middlesex, 1/Royal Dublin Fusiliers
87th Brigade
2/South Wales Borderers, 1/King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 1/Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers,
1/Border Regiment
88th Brigade
4/Worcestershires, 1/Essex, 2/Hampshires, Royal Newfoundland Regiment
Pioneers:
2/Monmouth
30th Division
21st Brigade
18/King’s, 2/Green Howards, 2/Wiltshires, 19/Manchesters
89th Brigade
17/King’s, 19/King’s, 20/King’s, 2/Bedfords
90th Brigade
2/Royal Scots Fusiliers, 16/Manchesters, 17/Manchesters, 18/Manchesters
Pioneers:
11/Sourn Lancashires
31st Division
92nd Brigade
10/East Yorkshires, 11/East Yorkshires, 12/East Yorkshires, 13/East Yorkshires
93rd Brigade
15/West Yorkshires, 16/West Yorkshires, 18/West Yorkshires, 18/Durham Light Infantry
94th Brigade
11/East Lancashires, 12/York and Lancaster, 13/York and Lancaster, 14/York and Lancaster
Pioneers:
12/King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
32nd Division
14th Brigade
19/Lancashire Fusiliers4, 1/Dorsetshires, 2/Manchesters, 15/Highland Light Infantry
96th Brigade
16/Northumberland Fusiliers, 15/Lancashire Fusiliers, 16/Lancashire Fusiliers, 2/Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
97th Brigade
11/Border Regiment, 2/King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 16/Highland Light Infantry, 17/Highland Light Infantry
Pioneers:
17/Northumberland Fusiliers5
33rd Division
19th Brigade
20th Royal Fusiliers, 2/Royal Welch Fusiliers, 1/Cameronians, 5/Scottish Rifles
98th Brigade
4/King’s Regiment, 1/4th Suffolk, 1/Middlesex, 2/Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
100th Brigade
1/Queen’s Regiment, 2/Worcestershires, 16/King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 1/9th Highland Light Infantry
Pioneers:
18/Middlesex Regiment
34th Division
101st Brigade
15/Royal Scots, 16/Royal Scots, 10/Lincolns, 11/Suflblks
102nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade6
20/Northumbcrland Fusiliers, 21/Northumberland Fusiliers, 22/Northumberland Fusiliers, 23/Northumberland Fusiliers
103rd (Tyneside Irish) Brigade7
24/Northumberland Fusiliers, 25/Northumberland Fusiliers, 26/Northumberland Fusiliers, 27/Northumberland Fusiliers
Pioneers:
18/Northumberland Fusiliers8
35th (Bantam) Division
104th Brigade
17/Lancashire Fusiliers, 18/Lancashire Fusiliers, 20/Lancashire Fusiliers, 23/Manchester
105th Brigade
15/Cheshire, 16/Cheshire, 14/Glosters, 15/Sherwood Foresters
106th Brigade
17/Royal Scots, 17/West Yorkshires, 19/Durham Light Infantry, 18/Highland Light Infantry
Pioneers:
19/Northumberland Fusiliers
36th (Ulster) Division
107th Brigade
8/Royal Irish Rifles, 9/Royal Irish Rifles, 10/Royal Irish Rifles, 15/Royal Irish Rifles
108th Brigade
11/Royal Irish Rifles, 12/Royal Irish Rifles, 13/Royal Irish Rifles, 9/Royal Irish Fusiliers
109th Brigade
9/Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 10/Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 11/Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 14/Royal Irish Rifles
Pioneers:
16/Royal Irish Rifles
37th Divison
110th Brigade9
6/Leicesters, 7/Leicesters, 8/Leicesters, 9/Leicesters
111th Brigade10
10/Royal Fusiliers, 13/Royal Fusiliers, 13/King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 13/Rifle Brigade
112th Brigade11
11/Royal Warwicks, 6/Bedfords, 8/East Lancashires, 10/Loyal North Lancashires
Pioneers:
9/North Staffordshires12
38th (Welsh) Division
113th Brigade
13/Royal Welch Fusiliers, 14/Royal Welch Fusiliers, 15/Royal Welch Fusiliers, 16/Royal Welch Fusiliers
114th Brigade
10/Welch, 13/Welch, 14/Welch, 15/Welch
115th Brigade
10/South Wales Borderers, 11/South Wales Borderers, 17/Royal Welch Fusiliers, 16/Welch
Pioneers:
19/Welch
39th Division
116th Brigade
11/Royal Sussex, 12/Royal Sussex, 13/Royal Sussex, 14/Hampsnires
117th Brigade
16/Sherwood Foresters, 17/Sherwood Foresters, 17/King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 16/Rifle Brigade
118th Brigade
1/6th Cheshires, 1/1stCambridgeshires, 1/1st Hertfordshires, 4th/5th Black Watch
Pioneers:
13/Glosters
41st Division
112th Brigade
12/East Surreys, 15/Hampshires, 11/Royal West Kents, 18/King’s Royal Rifle Corps
123rd Brigade
